comment

DV Home Cooking is devoted to readers and their recipes. All we ask is that you're a home cook, not a professional chef. Got a favorite dish you want to share? Send it, along with the story behind it, to DVHomeCooking@dailyvoice.com.

Story Behind The Recipe:
"I'm a pizza fanatic. I could eat pizza every day of the week. My love for pizza started when I was a kid, but then blossomed as an adult. Before we had our children, my husband and I visited Italy a couple of times, and it was then that my love for pizza grew even more. While in Italy, we ate pizza every single day (along with gelato at least once a day).

"We had pizza with so many different toppings; mushrooms, ham, olives, garlic, onions, etc. It was then that I decided that I would begin making pizza at home.

"Pizza is like a blank canvas. You can put whatever toppings on it that you want. I took two of my favorite ingredient combinations, added some fresh thyme and mascarpone cheese, and voila! Brussels sprouts and bacon pizza was born. This is my husband’s most requested pizza. I hope you enjoy this pizza as much as we do."

Recipe: Brussels Sprouts and Bacon Pizza

Ingredients

Pizza dough

1 container mascarpone cheese (8 oz)

1 container brussel sprouts

6 slices bacon

Handful flour

2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme

1 teaspoon salt

Pinch of freshly ground black pepper

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

Directions

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

Start by prepping the ingredients.

Take a sharp knife (or scissor) and cut the bacon into ½ inch pieces.

Cut the woody part off of each brussel sprout and take the leaves off. This part is a bit time consuming. Put them in a bowl.

Chop the thyme and mix it with the mascarpone cheese. Add a pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Put a medium fry pan over medium high heat. Cook the bacon, about 5-6 minutes. When the bacon is cooked, transfer to a paper towel. Discard the bacon grease.

Dust a handful of flour on your clean countertop and roll out the pizza dough with a rolling pin to your desired shape. I usually make a circular pizza.

Take a pastry brush and spread one tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil on top of the dough. This makes the dough a little bit crispier, in my experience. It is not a necessary step, but I always do it.

Spread the mascarpone mixture over the top of the dough, leaving an inch around the edges for the crust.

Add the cooked bacon on top of the mascarpone, followed by the brussel sprouts.

Bake in the oven for 10-12 minutes. Pizza is done when the crust is slightly browned and crispy. The brussels sprouts will be slightly charred.